What's happening
This bill allows police vehicles in New York to display forward-facing blue lights, along with red and/or white lights, during emergencies.
Why it matters
Increases visibility and recognition of police vehicles during emergencies. , potentially improving road safety for officers, other drivers, and pedestrians by making emergency responses more noticeable from both front and rear angles.
Aligns New York’s emergency vehicle lighting standards with those of other states. , where forward-facing blue lights are commonly used by law enforcement, aiding interstate recognition and reducing confusion for travelers.
May impact public perception and driver behavior. , as blue lights are strongly associated with police; this could lead to quicker compliance with police signals or, conversely, increased anxiety or distraction among drivers.
Requires police vehicles displaying forward-facing blue lights to also use red and/or white lights simultaneously. , ensuring multi-color lighting for clear identification and minimizing misuse or confusion with non-police vehicles.
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Who cares
Police departments
The bill would allow their vehicles to display forward-facing blue lights during emergency operations when combined with red and/or white lights.
Police officers
Officers operating police vehicles could use blue lights projecting both forward and rearward, rather than rearward only.
Fire departments and emergency medical services
Their vehicles would remain limited to rear-facing blue lights, with the new forward-facing permission applying only to police vehicles.
Headline styles
Allow Blue Lights on Police
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
159
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ANGELINO, BENDETT, BRABENEC, LEMONDES, McDONOUGH, MILLER, MORINELLO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to allowing police vehicles to have one or more forward facing blue lights
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph b of paragraph 4 of subdivision 41 of section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 143 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
b. In addition to the red and white lights authorized to be displayed pursuant to paragraph two of this subdivision, one or more blue lights or combination blue and red lights or combination blue, red and white lights may be affixed to a police vehicle, fire vehicle, ambulance, emergency ambulance service vehicle, and county emergency medical services vehicle provided that such blue light or lights shall be displayed on a [police vehicle,] fire vehicle, ambulance, emergency ambulance service vehicle, and county emergency medical services vehicle for rear projection only, and provided further that such blue light or lights may be displayed on a police vehicle for rear projection and forward projection. If such blue light is displayed on a police vehicle for forward projection, such blue light shall be displayed in combination with a red and/or white light. In the event that the trunk or rear gate of a police vehicle, fire vehicle, ambulance, emergency ambulance service vehicle, and county emergency medical services vehicle obstructs or diminishes the visibility of other emergency lighting on such vehicles, a blue light may be affixed to and displayed from the trunk, rear gate or interior of such vehicles. Such lights may be displayed on a police vehicle, fire vehicle, ambulance, emergency ambulance service vehicle, and county emergency medical services vehicle when such vehi-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01151-01-5
cles are engaged in an emergency operation. Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be deemed to authorize the use of blue lights on police vehicles, fire vehicles, ambulances, emergency ambulance service vehicles, and county emergency medical services vehicles unless such vehicles also display one or more red or combination red and white lights as otherwise authorized in this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.